In the bustling stands, Tsubasa was beside himself with excitement. He waved his arms and legs, shouting encouragement to Biwako throughout her match. His innocent manner, like that of a carefree little sprite, naturally drew countless eyes.
"Whose child is that? He's so adorable! I want to take him home and raise him!" Some of the mothers gazed at Tsubasa with affection shining in their eyes and couldn't resist whispering among themselves.
Beside Tsubasa, the clan heads showed nothing on their faces, but they had been secretly watching his every move, trying to find even the smallest useful clue in his behavior.
Dansuke Shimura frowned slightly and spoke in a low voice, his tone full of doubt. "Strange. I can't sense the slightest fluctuation of Chakra from this child. Is he really as terrifying as Team Leader Kazuha Yamanaka said? This innocent-looking little fellow?"
Sasuke Sarutobi's expression grew grave. "Clan Head Shikaboshi Nara went out of his way to stress that he's no ordinary child, so we can't dismiss it. There's been something uncanny about this brat from the very beginning. We'd better keep our guard up."
Chozan Akimichi leaned closer, his expression serious. "The harder he is to figure out, the more attention we need to pay him. Think about who Clan Head Shikaboshi and Clan Head Momiji are. They aren't the sort to become afraid of someone for no reason. If they're both wary of this child, there must be something going on."
Sasuke Sarutobi turned to Dansuke Shimura, a flash of ruthlessness in his eyes, and gave an order in a lowered voice. "Tell Yamamoto to have the suicide squad keep an eye out. If a good chance to strike comes along, don't let this brat get away. Better to kill him by mistake than let him live and cause endless trouble later." With that, he cast a seemingly casual glance at the cheering Tsubasa, looking at him as though he were prey already marked for the hunt. Here, beside the seemingly ordinary arena, an undercurrent aimed at Tsubasa was quietly stirring.
On arena three, Mitokado Homura and Kai Yamazaki stood facing each other. Mitokado Homura wore a blue ninja outfit and was adept at Water Release techniques. He seemed one with the water, radiating a gentle yet powerful aura. Kai Yamazaki, dressed in a red ninja outfit, specialized in Fire Release Ninjutsu. He seemed to be burning with flames, full of fiery fighting spirit.
The battle began, and Kai Yamazaki attacked first. His hands flashed through seals. "Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!" A gigantic fireball erupted from his mouth and roared toward Mitokado Homura. The air seemed to ignite in its path, and the temperature rose sharply.
Mitokado Homura remained unhurried, quickly forming hand seals. "Water Release: Water Formation Wall!" A gigantic wall of water rose before him, blocking the fireball. It struck the wall with a hiss, filling the air with steam.
"Hmph, is that all you've got?" Kai Yamazaki snorted and formed seals again. "Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!" Countless small fireballs shot from his mouth, flying toward Mitokado Homura like meteors filling the sky.
Seeing this, Mitokado Homura rapidly changed hand seals. "Water Release: Wild Water Wave!" A powerful stream of water shot from his hands, scattering the incoming fireballs one by one.
The spectators below watched with their blood boiling and shouted encouragement to both fighters. "Mitokado Homura, come on!" "Kai Yamazaki, don't lose!"
Kai Yamazaki grew irritated when Mitokado Homura easily neutralized his Fire Style attacks. He took a deep breath, gathered all his Chakra to its utmost limit, and formed hand seals. "Fire Release: Flame Bullet!" A gigantic flame bullet took shape in his hands. The air around it warped, making it look like a miniature sun.
Sensing the flame bullet's tremendous power, Mitokado Homura's expression turned grave. He knew that if he took the attack head-on, he would certainly be injured. He quickly formed hand seals. "Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!" A gigantic waterfall surged out from behind him and rushed toward Kai Yamazaki.
The flame bullet and the waterfall met in midair. The powerful energy from their collision shook cracks into the ground around the arena. Under the waterfall's impact, the flame bullet gradually went out, while the waterfall turned into vast amounts of steam under the flame bullet's intense heat.
"These two are incredible! This battle between opposing elements is amazing!" the spectators exclaimed.
Kai Yamazaki was unwilling to accept that his flame bullet had been defeated. He prepared to form seals and attack again, but just then, he suddenly realized he had almost no Chakra left.
Mitokado Homura keenly noticed Kai Yamazaki's condition and seized the opportunity, quickly forming hand seals. "Water Release: Water Dragon Biting Explosion Technique!" A gigantic water dragon flew from his hands and lunged at Kai Yamazaki.
Kai Yamazaki no longer had the strength to dodge and could only watch as the water dragon swallowed him. When it dispersed, he lay on the arena floor, unable to continue fighting.
"Mitokado Homura wins!" the referee announced. Thunderous applause erupted from the stands. Through his elemental advantage and outstanding combat skills, Mitokado Homura had defeated Kai Yamazaki.
In arena four, Shimura Danzō and Tōya Hyuga stood ready. Shimura Danzō's gaze was sharp. He specialized in Wind Release Ninjutsu and had mastered the wind to an extraordinary degree. Tōya Hyuga's gaze was firm. A genius of the Hyuga Clan, he was skilled in the Gentle Fist, and his Byakugan glimmered faintly, as though they could see through everything.
The battle began, and Tōya Hyuga struck first. He flashed forward, appearing before Shimura Danzō in an instant, and thrust his right palm at Danzō's chest. The strike looked ordinary, but it contained the essence of the Hyuga Clan's Gentle Fist. If it landed, it would damage his opponent's internal organs.
Shimura Danzō reacted swiftly, turning slightly to evade Tōya Hyuga's attack. At the same time, his hands flashed through seals. "Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere!" Several bullets of air shot from his mouth toward Tōya Hyuga.
Using the perceptive power of his Byakugan, Tōya Hyuga easily dodged the air bullets. He then charged Shimura Danzō again, this time using the Hyuga Clan's Eight Trigrams Palm. His palms moved swiftly, casting layer upon layer of palm shadows over Danzō.
Tōya Hyuga's palm technique forced Shimura Danzō back again and again, and Danzō inwardly marveled at the power of the Hyuga Gentle Fist. But he did not panic. As he dodged Tōya Hyuga's attacks, he searched for a chance to counter.
Suddenly, Shimura Danzō spotted a slight opening in Tōya Hyuga's footwork as he attacked. He seized the chance and quickly formed hand seals. "Wind Release: Wind Cutter Technique!" A sharp blade of wind shot from his hand, slashing toward Tōya Hyuga's legs.
Tōya Hyuga sensed the danger, swiftly withdrew his attack, and leaped backward. The wind blade grazed his leg, cutting a slit in his trouser leg.
That was close! Tōya Hyuga felt relieved. He knew Shimura Danzō's Wind Release Ninjutsu was extremely powerful, and he could not afford to be careless.
Tōya Hyuga then unleashed the Hyuga Clan's ultimate secret technique, the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms. His body spun rapidly as he struck at Shimura Danzō with blinding speed, each palm thrust accompanied by a powerful current of air.
Feeling the immense pressure, Shimura Danzō pushed his Wind Release Ninjutsu to its limit. He shielded himself with wind while continually releasing wind blades to ward off Tōya Hyuga's attacks.
On the arena, the two traded attacks as the spectators watched, enthralled, and exclaimed from time to time, "Their fight is incredible! Gentle Fist against Wind Release-this is thrilling!"
As the battle continued, both Shimura Danzō and Tōya Hyuga grew utterly exhausted. But neither gave up; both fought for victory.
At last, Shimura Danzō seized a gap between Tōya Hyuga's attacks and unleashed his strongest Wind Release Ninjutsu: Wind Release: Vacuum Serial Waves. One enormous, highly compressed sphere of wind after another took shape in his hands, and he hurled them at Tōya Hyuga.
Tōya Hyuga watched the incoming Wind Release: Vacuum Serial Waves, his heart full of fear. He knew he could not withstand the attack at all. But he did not back down. Using the last of his strength, he unleashed the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms.
Countless palm shadows struck at the Wind Release: Vacuum Serial Waves. The moment the palm shadows met the Vacuum Serial Waves, a tremendous boom rang out. The powerful energy blast sent both fighters flying, and they fell onto the arena floor.
The entire audience held its breath, eyes fixed on the arena. After a while, Shimura Danzō slowly stood up. Though covered in injuries, he had managed to win the hard-fought battle.
"Shimura Danzō wins!" the referee announced. Thunderous applause erupted from the stands.